Copyright

August 30, 2006

OK, that's not exactly true, especially now that we have a new PHOTO ALBUM of pictures taken at the 2006 7th grade Owl Camp orientation. Kate Metcalf of the MUS Communcations Department and Catherine Schuhmacher, our Lower School Counselor, captured lots and lots (and lots) of pictures of the boys having a great time and getting to know each other.

August 29, 2006

As far as we are currently aware, tonight's football games at Briarcrest will be played at their scheduled times. I've always thought that barring lightning or floods of biblical proportion, football always goes on. But, some schools have fields with fragile turf and want to save them for Friday night varsity contests.

If Coach Bakke has any cancelation information, I'll pass it along immediately. Until then, Game On!

Oh yes, and for those of you with sons in ASAP, you're welcome to pick your sons up whenever is most convenient for you. Students are not required to stay in ASAP until the end of the session (5:30), though they are welcome to do so. By the way, ASAP is in the Wunderlich Auditorium this week (in the Campus Center) due to Driver Education classes being held in the Lower School. ASAP will be back in its regular location in the Lower School on Monday, September 11th.

August 28, 2006

The annual Facing History and Ourselves program in coordination with Hutchison School, i.e., the Lower School Co-Edge program, kicks off the year September 13 at Hutchison. Held during Parents "Back to School" Day this year, the Co-Edge program gives the eighth grade boys extra incentive to come to school that morning as they haven't seen girls since the weekend. Seventh grade boys are not in the program, so they get to sleep in!

Facing History usually calls us out of class time for five half-days a year. We decided this year that it would be more appropriate to use the early Wednesday MUS holiday when Hutchison classes were in session to maximize the schedule for everyone. Like a regular school day, the eighth grade boys are to be dropped off at the Lower School where they will assemble before walking through the woods to our neighbor's campus. When Parents "Back to School" Day is completed, the boys should be ready for a ride home. Regular school attire is required.

August 26, 2006

Smythe here. Friday, I had the privilege to eat lunch with our fifteen new eighth grade boys. Mrs. Schuhmacher and Mr. Batey joined us as we administrators and counselors asked of the students a wide array of questions aimed to put the boys at ease while trying to identify any barriers. The boys opened up with little prompting. What a group! While they all admitted that the adjustment to MUS mainly meant that they had to do homework, a lot of homework, for the first time, they said it with a tone of respect and sobriety…possibly even with a hint of excitement.

I know how they feel. I transferred into this strange place as well, into the tenth grade, back in 1982. I said some similar things then, but these guys Friday seem a little more prepared to face MUS than I did. Their attitude was encouraging to say the least.

Sensitive to the rising tide combining more homework, tests, games, and whatever outside of school activities fill up the rest of their crowded lives, we told the boys that they will enter our Study Skills course along with the seventh graders just to verify that each new student has an organizational life plan designed according to their particular needs. Mrs. Germann can help chart a course for the the boys to navigate successfully the various tempests that are life of an MUS eighth grader. Admittedly, it is a rigorous duty scaling the tough terrain of Latin, English, Social Studies, Math, and Science courses designed to get this crowd ready for life in our Upper School. However, with the supportive network that is our teachers, counselors, and our parents, we should all rest assured that these guys will emerge as lean, mean, student machines if they simply do their daily tasks thoughtfully, on time, and without parental homework interference (that’s cheating!).

We should all be reminded that colleges don’t see Lower School grades. These scores now do not show up on MUS GPAs for Duke, Ole Miss, or Stanford. Yet, the boy proven by whatever challenges that face him this year will be conspicuous to said schools. His improved work ethic, his sharpened arithmetic skills, his well-honed grammar and writing ability, and his more mature management of time…these things survive and are what parents pay for at the MUS Lower School. Our job is to see that parents get their money’s worth…even if that means not getting onto the Honor Roll.

These years here in seventh and eighth grade are pre-season. The real games begin next year. I will remind us of this fact time and again.

When I left our lunch, I felt a true sense of confidence in our new additions to an already strong Class of 2011. Everyone who reads this should ask of himself or herself what they can do to ease the boys’ transition and encourage their achievement at our University School.

August 25, 2006

Mrs. Betsy Saslawsky will be hosting a coffee for Lower School parents on November 9th at 8:30 a.m. In addition to the opportunity to chat with other parents, Clay Smythe will be there from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. to talk a bit and answer any questions of general interest you might have for him.

The event will be at the Saslawskys' house, 6363 Blue Heron Cove in Memphis (behind Lausanne School). Or if you'll click on this link, it will give you a map and allow you to get driving directions if you need them.

So mark that date on your calendar -- November 9th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Clay will see you there!

This week's poll asks you which of these factors was the MOST important in your choosing MUS for your son?

We recognize that for most if not all parents, there were multiple factors that influenced your decision to send your son to MUS, but we're curious what was the biggest factor. We look forward to your thoughts. Last year, we ran a similar poll, so it will be interesting to compare the results.

Coach Kroeker, who provides instructions and coaching for MUS fencers, has been the fencing coach at Rhodes College since 2001 and won a Bronze Medal at the 1999 National Fencing Championships.

Practices are on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of the first semester. The cost of participating is $150 for the semester. Equipment is available for those who don't own their own; those who become interested may want to purchase the necessary equipment for $225-300.

Students who are interested in attending Saturday's introductory meeting in the Old Gym at MUS should come dressed in athletic clothing (sweatpants are recommended).

Conor Bolich, our Upper School student fencing liaison says that the team participates in tournaments at Rhodes and CBHS and is looking forward to MUS' hosting its first tournament this year.

We tried moving to more modern election techniques a couple of years ago, but the complexities involved in computer voting led us to go back to the tried-and-true "heads-down" method that I remember from school days. It's nice to know that in the age of iPods and Tivos that some things pass the test of time.

For the record, these were 7th grade Honor Council and Student Council elections -- I'll get you a list of winners as soon as I get a chance.

August 24, 2006

Lower School students interested in fencing should come to a meeting this Saturday, August 26th, at 1 p.m. at MUS in the old gym.

I will try to ask Conor Bolich, one of our Upper School students who is coordinating this meeting, for some additional information that may help those of you who, like me, don't know what MUS Lower School Fencing would entail (practices, equipment, competitions, etc.).